Swift

Summary

Swift is a multi-wavelength space observatory dedicated to the study of gamma-ray burst science. Swift is part of NASA's Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) mission which was launched in 2004. Swift has three co-aligned instruments on board: a Burst Alert Telescope (BAT), an X-ray telescope (XRT) and an ultraviolet/optical telescope (UVOT).  These instruments work together to observe gamma-ray bursts and afterglows in the gamma-ray, X-ray, optical, and ultraviolet wavebands. 

The Swift mission provides the first opportunity for scientists to examine the dynamic process of the gamma-ray burst events and answer fundamental questions of structure and evolution of the universe. The UK is part of an international collaboration which developed Swift.
 
Support for operation of Swift is funded by the UK Space Agency (UKSA), which is an executive agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).  UKSA works with STFC which funds researchers to exploit the scientific data yielded by the mission.

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Images

1 image of Swift
Space observatory
Artist impression of Swift
Credit: Spectrum Astro
94 348_th_1.jpg 348_web_1.jpg 348_web_1.jpg Space observatory